macOS Tahoe Transforms Launchpad Into App Library

[MacRumors]

macOS Tahoe does away with the Launchpad feature that's designed to show you all of the apps on your Mac, instead replacing it with a new "Applications" interface that's similar to the App Library on the iPhone and iPad.

The Applications interface organizes apps by category, like Utilities, Productivity and Finance, Social, Creativity, Information and Reading, Entertainment, and Other. There's also a Suggested section at the top of the interface.

The Launchpad replacement appears to be part of Apple's big Spotlight overhaul, and it can also be used to access Actions, Files, and Clipboard, with quick access keyboard shortcuts. Apple calls these "Browse Modes."

• Command + 1 opens up Applications.
• Command + 2 opens Files.
• Command + 3 opens Actions.
• Command + 4 opens Clipboard.

Actions are what you can do from the new version of Spotlight, and there are options ranging from sending a message to starting a timer. Clipboard brings up your clipboard history, including images you've copied and things you've pasted.

By default, the Applications interface shows your apps in a tiled view organized by category, but there are other options. You can choose a list view that's either organized by category or by app name, or you can use the alphabetical option in a tiled view.

macOS Tahoe and the revamped Applications interface that replaces Launchpad is only available to developers right now. Apple plans to make a public beta available in July, with a launch to follow in September.

Article Link: macOS Tahoe Transforms Launchpad Into App Library

 

[jz0309]

While I don’t use launchpad on my Mac, I hate the App Library on my iPhone/ipad

 

[JCCL]

So is it now a …..Start menu?

 

[germanbeer007]

amazing how long it took to remove launchpad

 

[Populus]

And…of course, just like on iOS/iPadOS, you still cannot re-categorise the apps, right?

By the way, that surface is grey and opaque. What about liquid glass?

 

[Kylo83]

I use launchpad all the time to check what app I wanna click

 

[besler3035]

Needs way more customization. Let me pin favorite apps up top, and let me, at the very least, change the order of the categories. Why is Utilities right under Suggestions?!? Makes no sense.

 

[Kylo83]

This sucks, I use it all the time, I want to see all apps in one place, this is a step back

 

[sniffies]

Has anyone figured out how to assign Quick Keys?

 

[Kylo83]

So now we can’t see all apps in one place how we like it

 

[AppleTO]

Oh really? Launchpad is how I launch almost all my apps. I prefer it and use a minimal dock. Not sure how I feel about this one.

 

[DHagan4755]

Of all the things, so far this doesn't do anything for me. I'd rather add the folder of Applications to my dock & put them in grid mode or list mode.

 

[GMShadow]

So now we can’t see all apps in one place how we like it

Drag your Applications folder from the Finder over to the right side of the Dock as a Stack, then it'll work just like a tidier LaunchPad.

 

[Kylo83]

Oh really? Launchpad is how I launch almost all my apps. I prefer it and use a minimal dock. Not sure how I feel about this one.

Same I hate this now, ruined it

 

[Kylo83]

Drag your Applications folder from the Finder over to the right side of the Dock as a Stack, then it'll work just like a tidier LaunchPad.

That isn’t how I want it, I have a shortcut so bottom left mouse cursor opens launchpad and I open the app I want, I have it in the order I want; this is a horrible step backwards

 

[Populus]

Of all the things, so far this doesn't do anything for me. I'd rather add the folder of Applications to my dock & put them in grid mode or list mode.

Actually… didn’t Snow Leopard work like that? I remember opening the Apps folder on the dock… and waiting until the icons loaded before clicking on one of them.

 

[mightysashiman]

'bout f*ing time they did something about that launchpad eyesore.

Now, can we have mouse and touchpad scroll direction settings decoupling before the Mac goes full quantum?

 

[Agent007]

I liked launchpad, in theory, but it never kept my apps in the same location on the screen which made it unusable for me. Also, there's no ability to simply turn off the dock (which is ridiculous).

 

[AppleTO]

What happens when you do the default launchpad gesture now? Is it just the new library thing?

 

[josehill]

Great. Another place for Apple to shove unwanted suggestions in your face. I wonder if they'll let you disable them.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

why the **** would they remove launchpad ? they could leave it as it and add app library as a bonus. this sucks

 

[Eric_WVGG]

Good riddance

funny how this looks like the old System Preferences app tho

 

[GMShadow]

Actually… didn’t Snow Leopard work like that? I remember opening the Apps folder on the dock… and waiting until the icons loaded before clicking on one of them.

Yeah, Snow Leopard had that as a precursor to Launchpad.

 

[Princess C.]

This is very annoying for me because I basically use the LaunchPad like I use my Home Screen on iOS and leave the desktop screen blank.

On the LaunchPad, I have my apps in different folders and designed my own folder name and categories. So I would hate if the new categories are based on what Apple or the developer labels them.

 

[dumastudetto]

I’m one of the weirdos who liked launchpad when I used macOS lol. I removed the icon from the dock though, and used the left hot corner to trigger it.

It was buggy though. As soon as an icon didn’t drop where you wanted it to, usually a folder, you knew your launchpad organisation was going to be destroyed on the next reboot.